A Vein Of Deceit
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Book Description
The latest episode in the popular series of mediaeval mysteries, featuring the physician-cum-sleuth, Matthew Bartholomew.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
There is something very amiss in the finances of Michaelhouse. Despite a new influx of well-heeled students, there is an acute lack of funds for the upkeep of the buildings, even for decent provisions. It is only when the Brother in charge of the account books dies unexpectedly that some sort of explanation is revealed: he has been paying large amounts of money for goods the college itself has never received. Although shocked by this evidence of fraud, Matthew is more concerned with the disappearance from his herbarium of a quantity of pennyroyal, a preparation known to cause a woman to miscarry, and a pregant visitor to his sister's household has died from an overdose of pennyroyal. Had she meant to abort her child or had someone else wanted to ensure she was unable to provide an heir to her husband's wealthy estates? When Matthew learns that it was her husband who had received Michaelhouse's money for undelivered goods he begins to search for other connections and exposes a very treacherous vein of deceit.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thrills and spills in 'A Vein of Deceit'.,
By Sophia (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Vein of Deceit: The Fifteenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew (Hardcover)
I love this series of Medieval murder mystery books by Susanna Gregory and this latest
one doesn't disappoint. In `A Vein of Deceit', physician Matthew Bartholomew, an instantly likeable investigator', due to his modesty, once again finds himself embroiled in murder in 14th century Cambridge. Along with his `sidekick', the no-nonsense Brother Michael, Matthew sets out to untangle the various mysteries that confront them - why is their college suddenly so short of funds, who attacked their college's Master and why has a healthy woman died in premature labour at the same time as medicinal potions have disappeared? Like all the previous stories in the series, this lovely thick book goes along at a steady, tension- mounting pace, involving both the reader and characters in many twists and turns amid an air of paranoia before building to a crescendo of action that sees the killer revealed. As always, all the colourful characters are there, both from the university and the town, delighting the reader with their high comedy value. As with all the Matthew Bartholomew chronicles, I found it hard to put this book down and when I finally did, realised that my only disappointment was that I had to wait a whole year before the next in the series comes out.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Coal, pigs, wood, 30 pieces of silver = murder,
By
This review is from: A Vein Of Deceit: The Fifteenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew (The Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew) (Paperback)
Gregory's latest 14th century mystery has us leaving the comfort of Michaelhouse and Cambridge to head into murky Suffolk and to a pair of feuding villages to uncover the twisted economic plotting that surround the mysterious death of Wynewyk. A classic Bartholomew case where three seemingly unlinked deaths (Carbo, Joan and Wynewyk) gradually coalesce around the pursuit of coal, pigs and wood. Throw in a couple of unsavoury characters, Goss and his seemingly inhuman sister Odoma, with a healthy mix of three grumbling new students for Bartholomew - Risleye, Valence and Tesdale - and you get another cracking mystery. King's College apparent guilt in the entire matter (Paxtone leading the way this time) adds extra spice.
The author's decision to take us out of Cambridge for a while is as much a breath of fresh air as when we traipsed up to Ely in "A Summer of Discontent". It gives us a greater chance to observe the perfect matching of the big-boned senior proctor and his Corpse Examiner as we realise in this outing Matthew is quite capable of serious character misjudgement. Facts he is good at, understanding people he is not. A fact driven home by the reappearance of his beloved Mathilde and his obstinate clinging to notion that everyone is incapable of immoral judgement - an odd trait for a sleuth. The list of deaths take us to confront Wynewk's shady business partners who are all embroiled with Kings College over the inheritance of a manor and its land. All three own up to their economic mis-dealings pretty swiftly after Michael and Matthew are forced to take undignified cover in a ditch whilst being shot at with arrows. Still, the threads eventually come, Matthew is reluctantly forced to accept what is glaringly obvious as more of the village-folk start moving to meet their Maker and - in what is becoming fairly consistent as the denouement for Gregory - we end up with the traditional fights as the cornered murderers try to bring their nefarious plotting to a spectacular end. I admit I do like the character of Isnard. The rough, overly superstitious bargeman who cheerfully spouts utter nonsense to Matthew's eternal dismay is highly amusing. With Cynric's watchful, yet equally superstitious bumbling, the pair make a fine sideshow. I also liked that Gregory has Wynewyk dying for his own personal 30 marks of silver. Oblique but erudite and encapsulates the depths of skills the author possesses. Gregory (or Cruwys as the author is really known) is one of the finest medieval murder mystery authors writing today. Erudite, with an eye for detail, a marvellous sense of creeping problem solving, empathetic characterisation and labyrinthine plots, my eyes always light up when the next Bartholomew or Chaloner hits the shelves. A must read to any fan of the genre to be frank. I hope the series continues a good long while even if to see Matthew and Mathilde united at last!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
VISITING AN OLD FRIEND,
By
This review is from: A Vein Of Deceit: The Fifteenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew (The Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew) (Paperback)
Reading a Susanna Gregory novel is like visiting an old friend for your annual summer holiday. The Bartholomew Chronicles, this one is No.15, are always well written, well researched, full of good, well described characters, a good plot and a nice touch of humour! What more can you want from a novel?
This edition is as good as previous ones, the violence is there, but kept within reason, the twists and turns of the plot continue right to the end and the descriptions of Cambridge and the towns in Suffolk make you feel like you have been there yourself. I fully recommend this series and her 'Chaloner' novels. And... when you have finished reading those, try the 'Medieval Murders' novels which feature Bartholomew. Still want more, well try Bernard Knight's excellent 'Crowner John' books (the character is also featured in the 'Medieval Murderers series). Enjoy a trip into the past without leaving your armchair.
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